Last minute Monty Python decision

Comedy veterans Monty Python will choose the venue for their eagerly-awaited comeback just moments before it is announced.

The comedy troupe - which features John Cleese and Michael Palin in its line-up - will confirm a reunion tomorrow (November 21), their first new project for three decades.

The team's Eric Idle has revealed they have received "bids" to host the performance in locations around the world with a "winner" still to be finalised.

Eric, Michael, John, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones are due to attend a press conference at midday tomorrow to give further details of their plans.

The Pythons have amassed millions of fans for their groundbreaking, anarchic comedy series and films, which also launched their own successful solo careers.

Eric sent a message online today which said: " Extraordinary reaction to the Python reunion leak. Bids are coming in from all over the world. We'll announce the winner tomorrow."

It is understood that the initial plan will be for one live show and the comedy stars will examine each of the invitations they have received to perform before coming to a decision. Any future plans after that are still up in the air.

They are said to have been conducting talks in secret for many months to hatch their reunion, and the details will be under wraps until the press conference, being staged at London's Playhouse Theatre, where Python musical Spamalot is being performed.

Monty Python's Flying Circus was made for TV between 1969 and 1974 and generations of fans can recite lines and whole sketches. The team went on to make films including Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975) and Monty Python's Life Of Brian (1979). Sixth Python Graham Chapman died of cancer in 1989 aged just 48, and nine years later the five remaining members appeared together onstage at the Aspen Comedy Festival in the US.

Earlier this year, film producer Mark Forstater, who claimed a share of profits from Spamalot, won a High Court royalty fight with the Monty Python comedy team.

Terry Jones joked last night about the reunion: " It's so I can pay off my mortgage and Python can pay off the legal fees in the Forstater case."